Florida Marijuana Use Discussed at Forum Held at Polk State College

Wednesday

Feb 26, 2014 at 6:37 PM

A proposed constitutional amendment to allow the use of medical marijuana is either a much-needed measure for ailing Floridians or a devious trick intended to open the door to the unrestricted smoking of pot in Florida.

By GARY WHITETHE LEDGER

WINTER HAVEN | A proposed constitutional amendment to allow the use of medical marijuana is either a much-needed measure for ailing Floridians or a devious trick intended to open the door to the unrestricted smoking of pot in Florida.Those were the conflicting opinions an audience of about 200 heard during a panel discussion at Polk State College on the ballot measure facing Floridians in November.Tuesday's forum, organized by the Florida Bipartisan Civic Affairs Group, remained civil, in contrast to a similar event the previous night in Tampa described as "a Texas cage match" by one of the Winter Haven panelists, retired Public Defender Marion Moorman.Moorman was joined on the panel by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd; Jessica Spencer, project director of the Manatee County Substance Abuse Coalition; Jodi James, executive director of the Florida Cannabis Action Network; Jeffrey Reddout, a Winter Haven neuropsychologist; and Kim Sobecki of Pinellas County, the mother of a young man with epilepsy.The proposed constitutional amendment, which requires support from 60 percent of voters to become law, would allow the "medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician." It would require the Florida Department of Health to register and regulate centers to produce and distribute marijuana for medical use.At present, the use or possession of cannabis in any form is illegal in Florida. As James noted, 21 other states allow the medicinal use of marijuana, as do some countries, including Portugal and Israel.Judd and Spencer both spoke strongly against the ballot measure, while James and Sobecki spoke passionately in favor of it. Reddout didn't make an endorsement but said, "There are claims on both sides of the debate that are too dire and too rosy."Moorman, calling himself a libertarian, said he would "hold my nose" and vote for the amendment despite knowing it will have unintended consequences.The audience seemed tilted slightly in favor of those who favor passage of the amendment. Spectators applauded at times during the discussion, with the loudest affirmation coming when James declared, "Let's get medicine in the hands of those who need it and stop this politics."Judd said he isn't opposed to the use of cannabis-derived products by people with legitimate illnesses. But he described the ballot measure at least three times as "a wolf in sheep's clothing."Judd said the backers of the amendment are exploiting Floridians' sympathies in hopes of taking the first step toward legalizing the "recreational" use of marijuana. In two states, Colorado and Washington, laws allowing the medical use of marijuana led to a full legalization of the substance.Calling the campaign for the amendment's passage a "well-oiled machine," Judd said the amendment's use of the word "caregivers" rather than "doctors" in describing who may assist patients' use of marijuana shows the backers' intent.The 74-page summary of the amendment that will appear on ballots refers to "debilitating diseases," but Judd noted that the full text says Floridians with a "debilitating medical condition" would be eligible to receive medical marijuana."It has a loophole large enough to sail a battleship through," Judd said.Judd warned that if the measure passes, teenagers would be able to acquire marijuana from dispensaries without their parents' knowledge.The three-term sheriff produced a map of Polk County with dots showing the potential locations of marijuana dispensaries if the amendment is approved. He said the prevalence of dispensaries in Orange County, Calif., would translate to 50 such centers in Polk County.Sobecki made an appeal for passage of the measure based on the experience of her son, who she said has three types of seizures on a daily basis. She said doctors have prescribed a myriad of medications over the past 20 years, all of which either didn't help or produced unbearable side effects."We almost feel this is our last chance to give him a quality of life, and he deserves this," Sobecki said.Spencer, the substance-abuse official, agreed that extract from marijuana has medicinal properties, but she said the smoking of marijuana is dangerous."This isn't a debate over who is the most compassionate," Spencer said. "In a lot of ways, I think our philosophies match."James said proponents of medicinal cannabis have been forced to pursue a constitutional amendment because the Florida Legislature has for years ignored calls to revise the state's policy of absolute marijuana prohibition.Moorman agreed with that assessment."What you're seeing is the reaping of the whirlwind of 50 years of draconian, nonsensical drug policies in this country," he said.While opponents cite a lack of scientific evidence for the medical benefits of marijuana, Reddout said it's almost impossible for researchers to gain funding to study a drug that remains illegal under federal law.Reddout called Judd's criticism of the word "condition" in the amendment "a little bit of a red herring." He said drugs are legitimately used to address conditions or symptoms rather than diseases. For example, he said, marijuana can ease the chemotherapy- induced nausea of cancer patients.Audience members provided questions on such matters as the effects of secondhand marijuana smoke and comparisons of alcohol and marijuana.James noted that Floridians didn't have to pursue a constitutional amendment before doctors could prescribe oxycontin, an opioid pain medication. She said marijuana is safer and less addictive than some powerful prescription drugs."I'd much rather have a cannabis balm for my elbow than a steroid," she said.At one point, Judd said he had a sore neck and predicted that, if the measure passed, someone would offer him a prescription of marijuana for the condition. That prompted applause from the audience, and a young woman called out, "You should try it."

[ Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. He blogs about tourism at http://tourism.blogs.theledger.com. ]